Mexico Asks US, France to Assist in Helicopter Crash Investigation

Soldiers stand guard as federal police officers carry a stretcher with the body of a victim of a helicopter crash in which Mexico's Interior Minister Francisco Blake Mora and seven others were killed near Mexico City, November 11, 2011.

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Mexican authorities have asked U.S. and French aviation crash experts to help investigate the helicopter crash that killed Interior Minister Francisco Blake Mora, a key figure in fighting the country's illegal drug cartels.

Officials say Mora was killed Friday while traveling between Mexico City and the state of Morelos.

President Felipe Calderon said the helicopter crash happened in foggy conditions and was probably an accident. The president, however, said all possible causes are under investigation.

Seven other people were on board the helicopter and were also killed.

Blake Mora was appointed as interior minister in July of last year. He was the second interior minister under President Calderon to die in an aviation incident.

In November 2008, Juan Camilo Mourino was killed in a plane crash. Despite widespread speculation that the crash was caused by sabotage, investigators blamed pilot error.

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